Adjectives

Comparatives and superlatives

Comparative sentences compare two things.

• Moon Rock is smaller than Pittsville.
• The train is more expensive than the bus.
• I like the train, but the bus is cheaper.
• Jill is better than Wendy at languages.

Superlative sentences compare more than two things.

• Sydney is the biggest city. (= of all the other cities)
• The plane is the most expensive way to travel.
• Of all the forms of transportation, the plane is the most expensive.
• Alison is the best swimmer.

Different adjectives form comparatives and superlatives in different ways.

This is how we make the comparative and superlative forms:

-short adjectives (one syllable):

adjective + -er, -est
small smaller smallest

-short adjectives that end in consonant + vowel + consonant (e.g., b + i + g):

adjective (double last letter) + -er, -est
big bigger biggest

-short adjectives that end in e:

adjective + -r, -st
nice nicer nicest

-two-syllable adjectives that end in y:

adjective (change y to i) + -er, -est
dirty dirtier dirtiest

-other two-syllable adjectives and longer adjectives:

more, most + adjective
beautiful more beautiful most beautiful

-irregular adjectives:

comparative and superlative forms are irregular
good better best